Web defacement

Updated: 06/30/2019 by Computer Hope
Illustration: A hacked website.

Web defacement is hacking a website with the intent of changing the way it appears to visitors. Web defacement is used as a method to illegally draw traffic to websites, spread propaganda, protest, remove unwanted content, or offend other users.

A web defacement may involve deleting, adding, or changing content on the page, creating a phishing page, holding the page for ransom, and adding spyware or other malware.

Internet terms